How Long Does a Police Background Investigation Take?

Depending on the purpose of the background check, as well as how comprehensive it is, the time to get results can range from instantaneous to about a month. Background checks are most frequently performed as part of the screening and hiring process for jobs, but they may be performed for other reasons.

Anyone can use a database of public records to perform a background check. You can use such services to perform a police background check on a person, for example.  This yields instant results and will reveal any existing criminal information relating to the searched person. This includes the person's full name and aliases, mug shots, the criminal charges, the arresting agency, and all previous crimes.

In addition to criminal charges, a background check might also look into a person's credit or employment history. Most background checks can be completed within a few days at most, although a full history summary from the FBI can take up to four weeks. The following are some of the most common reasons criminal background checks are performed.

College applications

Colleges naturally perform education background checks on all applicants to verify that they've completed the prerequisites for attendance and performed well enough to meet the college's standards. What many prospective students may not realize, however, is that 66% of colleges also perform criminal background checks as part of their application process.

College officials have defended this practice by saying it's in the best interest of campus safety, but some criticize the practice saying that it can unfairly harm a student's chances at receiving financial aid or even bar them from admission. While criminal background checks are typically performed by highly trained professionals, the checks performed at some colleges may be done by untrained staff who don't know how to properly read, or react to, a rap sheet. While many colleges are striving to ensure that minor offenses won't ruin a student's chances to pursue their education, having a criminal record can create extra hurdles in the application process.

Hiring

It's impossible to get a new job without your potential employer running a criminal background check. There are many reasons for this, with the biggest being that it's for the safety of your co-workers and others you'll be working with. Hiring a candidate with a violent history would be a dangerous prospect for most jobs. Hiring a candidate with a history of embezzlement wouldn't be a good idea for a bookkeeping position, and so on.

Of course, these checks are also performed to limit the liability of the company. Hiring people is almost always a risk, because a hiring manager rarely knows their candidates personally, and making a mistake can be costly. For example, if a trucking company were tire hire a driver with a history of traffic violations or accidents, they could share the blame if a shipment was damaged because of the fault of the driver.

Firearm purchases

Anyone wishing to legally purchase a firearm will need to undergo a background check via the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). There are many reasons a person can be declined for the purchase of a firearm, with felony convictions being the most common. Other reasons could include open arrest warrants, a history of drug abuse, dishonorable discharges, or concerning mental health history.

Potential delays

While many online background checks can be performed instantly, and nearly all other checks should be done in a few business days, there's always the possibility a check could be delayed. One of the most common reasons is simply filling out the forms incorrectly. Legal restrictions are other possible causes of delays. Some states, for example, may have regulations in place as to how soon certain information becomes publicly available. Starting with an online background investigation is generally a good idea, and it may prevent the need to look any further.